Disney, Jimmy Kimmel, and the Oligopoly Nobody Voted For
Disney thought they could strong-arm their audience into silence. They thought they could censor, suppress, and still collect your subscription dollars. But the people proved them wrong.
When Disney started playing games with freedom of speech, millions responded the only way that matters in corporate America: they canceled their subscriptions.
The exodus was so massive that Disney+ couldn’t handle the flood—its site crashed under the weight of resistance. That’s not a glitch. That’s a message.
Disney’s “Fix”: Bring Back Jimmy Kimmel
In a move that felt less like strategy and more like desperation, Disney tried to win back goodwill by reinstating Jimmy Kimmel. But here’s the reality: viewers aren’t buying it. They remember the censorship. They remember the arrogance. And one late-night host won’t fix the credibility gap Disney created for itself.
But what’s really happening runs much deeper.
The Local Affiliates’ Game
Even with Disney pushing Kimmel back onto the stage, local affiliates aren’t playing along. Stations that would normally carry his show are refusing. Why? Because there’s a bigger deal at stake.
Nexstar—the largest owner of local TV stations—is trying to merge with Tegna. If the deal goes through, they’ll control nearly 80% of all local affiliates. That’s not competition. That’s control.
But they need the FCC’s blessing to make it happen. And with the FCC chairman cracking down on anyone who speaks against Trump, local affiliates are suddenly very motivated to show loyalty. Their way of “kissing the ring”? Cutting off Kimmel and signaling they’ll play ball to get their merger rubber-stamped.
What This Means for You
This isn’t just about whether you can watch Jimmy Kimmel. It’s about who controls the airwaves you rely on for information. It’s about whether a handful of corporations get to dictate what you see, hear, and think.
We’re watching an oligopoly in real time—a cartel of media giants cutting deals behind the scenes while silencing dissent in the name of market share.
And once again, the people are the collateral damage.
The Resistance Is Growing
But the story isn’t finished. Disney already felt the sting of mass cancellations. Affiliates are exposing themselves by openly playing politics with their programming. And the public? The public is finally connecting the dots: this isn’t entertainment anymore. It’s leverage.
The choice is clear—accept the illusion of choice or fight back against the monopolies tightening their grip.
The resistance has started. Disney just found out the hard way. And the oligopoly is next.